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Ridgewood Elementary earns state award

Ohio
Published 8:26 p.m. ET Jan. 29, 2016

Members of the 2016-16 PBIS team at Ridgewood Elementary School includes, from left, Connie Kinsey, Jenny Olinger, Lori Buchanan, Leslie Dulgar, Jamie Henderson and Gordon Arney. Other members include teacher Lisa Knicely and princpal Brian Rentsch.(Photo: Submitted)

WEST LAFAYETTE - Members of the Ridgewood Elementary School Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports program (PBIS), not only want students to prevent and correct bad behavior, but also want the students to be recognized for doing the right thing. Devising a program that does just that has not only inspired students, but has earned the team recognition for its positive outcomes.

Ridgewood Elementary received a Silver Award on Dec. 1 from the State Department of Education for implementation of PBIS initiatives. The innovative program and its results are the reasons the program attracted recognition, and the school’s educators and students are behind its success, said Ridgewood Elementary Principal Brian Rentsch.

“We are all proud of the award, and we didn't expect it. The staff members and students who were part of it should be very proud, because it's quite and accomplishment,” he said.

PBIS is a state initiative with the goal of building positive relationships between students and faculty, and provides the tools that lead to positive social and academic outcomes for students. While it is important to put forth strategies that reduce the number of discipline reports, Rentsch said, highlighting students' good behavior has also been important to the team.

“Our focus in on catching the kids doing something right before doing something wrong,” he said. “Instituting the PBIS program has done exactly what it is suppose to do – decrease the number of discipline reports.”

Team members meet each month to come up with strategies and incentives that create tangible and meaningful results for the students.

“As a group, when we sit down each month, we ask ‘How can we change this to better the environment,’” Rentsch said.

Focusing on positive reports and taking notice of the details about students who do positive things are all part of improving behavior, Rentsch said.

Students are finding the results of their good behavior are also fun. Kindness coins are rewarded for efforts like opening doors, showing kind gestures and helping their peers. Beat the Bell challenges students to have good attendance and avoid being tardy. Classrooms with the best attendance are recognized with a golden clock hung on the door.

Special activities, such as the Little Generals Award Dance are held monthly to reward students for their good behavior.

Dulgar said the initiatives help to create a positive and supportive school environment. “We incorporate incentives for positive behaviors and the students seem to enjoy these incentives. I feel we are seeing positive behaviors because of the reinforcements that our staff provide for our students.”

Ridgewood Elementary is one of 22 schools in Ohio that received awards for the PBIS strategies, an accomplishment that proves the school's PBIS team is making a difference for the students and staff.

“It is great being recognized for our efforts. Our staff works really hard to provide the best academic and social environment for our students,” Dulgar said.